Matthew Rosamund
Sergeant-Major, 37th Bengal Native Infantry
- Register No.
- 1082 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Sergeant-Major (register: Sergeant Major) all Sergeant-Majors →
- Unit
- 37th Bengal Native Infantry all 37th Bengal Native Infantry VCs →
- Date of action
- 4 June 1857 on this day → all of 1857 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Indian Mutiny
- London Gazette
- 23rd August 1858 on this day → all of 1858 →
- Born
- 13th July 1823 at Eaton Socon, Huntingdonshire.*
- Died
- 14th July 1866 in the Red Sea
- Memorial / grave
- not known: Buried at sea
Digest of citation
Sergeant-Major Rosamund volunteered to accompany his commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Spottiswoode, of the 37th Bengal Native Infantry, to set fire to the right of the lines, the intention being to drive out the Sepoys, on the evening of the 4th June 1857, during the outbreak at Benares, India. Sergeant-Major Gill, of the Loodiana Regiment and Private John Kirk, of the 10th Regiment, also volunteered to go along to bring out Captain Brown, his wife and infant, along with some others, who were in a detached bungalow, and take them into the barracks for safety. two are, Swallow Cliffe, Wiltshire and Seaton Town, Bedfordshire
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
ROSAMUND, Matthew. (reg No. 1082).
Sergeant-Major. 37th Bengal Native Infantry.
London Gazetted on 23rd August 1858.
Born on 13th July 1823 at Eaton Socon, Huntingdonshire.* Died on 14th July 1866 in the Red Sea.
Memorial not known: Buried at sea.
Digest of Citation reads: Sergeant-Major Rosamund volunteered to accompany his commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Spottiswoode, of the 37th Bengal Native Infantry, to set fire to the right of the lines, the intention being to drive out the Sepoys, on the evening of the 4th June 1857, during the outbreak at Benares, India. Sergeant-Major Gill, of the Loodiana Regiment and Private John Kirk, of the 10th Regiment, also volunteered to go along to bring out Captain Brown, his wife and infant, along with some others, who were in a detached bungalow, and take them into the barracks for safety.
* In the Records, There are three birthplaces record, the other two are, Swallow Cliffe, Wiltshire and Seaton Town, Bedfordshire.
Additional information:. Being the son and a grandson, of soldiers, it was only natural that he would become one himself. He served in the second Sikh War at Chilianallah and also at Gujerat, where the British suffered killed, and 682 wounded to the enemy's, 2000 killed or wounded. Both these actions took place under General Lord Gough. He was serving with Neil, when he disarmed the Indian troops, during the Mutiny. His Victoria Cross sold for £54 the London on 25th November 1903.
Additional information
Being the son and a grandson, of soldiers, it was only natural that he would become one himself. He served in the second Sikh War at Chilianallah and also at Gujerat, where the British suffered killed, and 682 wounded to the enemy's, 2000 killed or wounded. Both these actions took place under General Lord Gough. He was serving with Neil, when he disarmed the Indian troops, during the Mutiny. His Victoria Cross sold for £54 the London on 25th November 1903.
* In the Records, There are three birthplaces record, the other
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Alf recorded the memorial as: not known: Buried at sea
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